Tape recorder



Dec. 22, 1964 H. E. sLolER 3,162,389

TAPE RECORDER Filed Jan. .2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v amid $10,,

IN VEN TOR.

WHANN 8 McMA/WG'AL A/Iorneys for A l/canf Dec. 22, 1964 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 H. E. SLOIER TAPE RECORDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flora/o 570/0;

INVENTOR- WHANN 8 McMA/WGAI. A/fomoy; f5! A I/l'anf United States Patent Ofiice 3,162,389 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 TAPE RECORDER Harold E. Sloier, Tokyo, Japan, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sun Wave Kogyo Kabushiki Kaishya,

Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Jan. 2, 1962, er. No. 163,631 Claims. (Cl. 24255.12)

The present invention relates generally to tape recorders, and is more particularly concerned with improved driving and braking mechanism for the take-up and rewind reels for a flexible recording medium, such as a sound recording tape.

The present invention constitutes improvements in driving and braking mechanisms such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,973,156, entitled Tape Recorder.

Briefly, conventional arrangements such as disclosed in this patent utilize a driving motor with oppositely projecting driving ends which are simultaneously engageable with the turntables for the take-up and rewind reels to provide a braking action, but which may be selectively engaged by pivotal movements of the motor to drive either the take-up reel or the rewind reel.

Conventional arrangements operating in the manner disclosed in the above mentioned patent have inherent disadvantages, including the following:

(1) During the braking action, the rotational inertia of the motor acting through the take-up and rewind reels subject the tape to undesirable increased tension which stretches and weakens the tape.

(2) Since the driving shafts are normally engaged with the rubber or other resilient driving surface of the turntables, the concentrated contact pressures over periods of nonuse may permanently undesirably deform the driving surfaces.

Having the foregoing inherent disadvantages and drawbacks of conventional arrangements in mind, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved driving and braking mechanism embodying a driving motor with oppositely extending shaft ends which are normally disengaged from driving relationship with the reel turntables, but which may be selectively placed in driving engagement with the'associated turntables to take-up or rewind the tape.

Another object is to provide in a driving and braking mechanism for tape recorders, a separate brake member having relatively large brake shoes or surfaces which are simultaneously engaged with the turntables to effect a stopping or braking action in response to movement of the motor to a position in which the shaft ends are disengaged from the turntables. On the other hand, the arrangement is such that movement of either shaft end into driving engagement with its associated turntable will remove the brake member from its braking position.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a recorder embodying a driving and braking mechanism according to the present invention, parts being broken away to show the cooperative relationship of certain of the elements;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same, taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, certain of the elements being shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view diagrammatically illustrating the operation of the manually operable mechanism for selectively changing the motor drive from one reel to the other; and

FIG. 4(a), (b) and (c) are views diagrammatically illustrating the sequential operation of the driving and braking mechanism for the manually selected operating positions.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the present invention is illustrated as being embodied in a tape recorder as generally indicated at 10 and which includes a housing having a top wall 11, a rear wall 12, and a front wall 13. In keeping with the conventional recorder constructions, the recorder is provided with the usual turntables 14 and 15, as shown herein in phantom lines, which are adapted to removably receive the take-up and rewind tape reels (not shown) for moving the tape with respect to a magnetic sound head (not shown).

As most clearly shown in FIG. 1, a driving motor 16 is positioned in an opening 17 in the top wall of the housing in such a position that its oppositely extending driving shaft ends 18 and 19 will be respectively associated with the turntables 14 and 15.

The motor 16 is clamped or otherwise fixedly secured to a supporting plate 20 which is positioned below the top wall 11 of the housing, and suspended for universal tilting movement by means of an upstanding projecting arm 21 positioned between the opposite ends of the plate. The outer end margin of this arm is provided with a transverse slot 22 which receives a projecting finger 23 carried by the top wall 11. The slot 22 and finger 23 coact to thus form a pivotal support for the plate 20 permitting universal tilting movements thereof.

The motor 16 is positioned on one side of the pivotal support of the plate 20, and the end of the plate adjacent the motor is provided with an upturned projecting portion or finger 24 adapted to extend through an opening 25 in the top wall 11 for retaining the plate 20 generally against lateral swinging movements about its pivotal support.

A brake member, as generally indicated at 26, is provided with a plate portion 27 which is loosely positioned in the space between the motor and an adjacent edge of the opening 17 to permit raising and lowering movements of the brake member. The lowermost edge of the plate portion is provided with a projection 28 which is adapted to bear against the adjacent end of the plate 20. The brake member also includes end portions which project from the plate portion 27 and are respectively provided with braking shoes 29 and 30 presenting flat surfaces for making braking engagement with the respective turntables 14 and 15. As shown best in FIG. 2, the supporting plate 20 is biased in a clockwise direction of movement about its pivotal support by means of a tension spring 31, one end of this spring being connected to the supporting plate and the other end to an extension of the top wall 11. Movement of the plate 20 in clockwise direction is arrested by the engagement of the braking shoes with their associated turntables.

On the opposite side of the pivotal mounting of the plate 20, from that on which the motor 16 is positioned, the plate is formed with spaced finger portions 32 and 32 which are positioned in the path of movement of and selectively engageable by projections 33 and 33' carried by a rotatably mounted member 34 of a manually'operable mechanism mounted in the Wall 13. This mechanism may include an energizing switch for the motor 16, the switch and member 34 being operable as a unit by means of a knob 35.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 the details of the operation will be described. Normally, the rotatably mounted member 34 and supporting plate 20 will be in a mid-position as shown in full lines in FIGS. 3 and 4(a). In this position, it will be observed that the driving ends 18 and '19 of the motor drive shaft will be disengaged with respect to the turntables 14 and 15, and

that the braking shoes 29 and 30 under thebiasing force of the tension spring 31 will be frictionally engaged and exert a braking force onthe turntables.

If the knob 35 is now rotatedin a direction to tilt the supporting plate 20 to the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, the supporting plate 20, will'be tilted to the position shown in FIG. 4(b) wherein it will be observed that the shaft driving end 18 of the motor will be in driving engagement with the turntable, 14, Whilethe driving end 19 of the motor shaft will continue to be out of driving engagement with respect to turntable 15. Under these conditions, the turntable 14 will be rotated in a take-up direction of the associated tape reel. During the tilting movement of the supporting plate 20, this plate will be moved to a position which will permit the brake member 26 to. drop down and dis-' engage its braking shoes 29 and 30 from the associated turntables, thus permitting free operation of the turn-- tables by means of the motor. This release of 'the brake member is accomplished through the coaction ofthe tilting'eifect of the plate 20 about its pivotal support, and the concomitant engagement of the driving shaft end 18 With its associated turntable.

In order to effect a tape rewind, the supporting plate 20 Will be actuated by rotation of the knob 35' in an opposite direction to effect movement to "the position shown in FIG. 4(0). In this condition, the driving end 19 of the motor shaft is in driving engagement with. the turntable 15, while the driving end 18 remains disengaged with respect to its associated turntable 14. The

4 1 ing: a motor havinga driving shaft with oppositely extending driving shaft ends respectively positioned adjacent said turntables; a motor support pivoted for universal movement; a movably mounted brake member having ends respectively engageable in a braking position with said turntables, said member beingengageable by said support; spring means acting on said support to move it to a limitposition in which the brake member is in braking position and the shaft ends are disengaged with respect to said turntables; and means for selectively tilting said support to positions in which'said shaft ends 'arerespectively in driving "relationship with said turntables and the brake member. relieved for movement to non-braking position.

3. In a tape recorder, apairof rotatable turntables adapted to receive a pair of'tapewinding reels, a plate '"member supported for universal I tilting movement, a motor fixedly-mounted on said plate and .having .adriving shaft with oppositely, extending driving shaft ends for respectively driving said turntables, a brake member at one end of said plate havingfend shoes adapted to engage withv said" turntables, a spring biasing said plate brake is released in the same manner-as previously de;

scribed. 7 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that the knobv is selectively operable to accomplish operation of the winding reels'in a take-up or rewind -direction .as-desired, and-that whenever the' knob is placedina midposition of neutral, the drivingends of the motor shaft are, disengaged or out of driving relation with respect ,to their associated turntables, and the brake will b automatically moved to a braking positions" Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specificform shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A drive mechanism for a tape recorder having -a pair of rotatable turntables adapted to receive a pair of tape winding reels, comprising: a motor having a driving shaft with oppositely extendingdriving shaft ends for respectively driving said turntables; a pivotally mounted support for normally supporting said 'motor in a position with its driving shaftends ina non-driving relationship with the turntables; a brake member engagefor vertical reciprocable movements into braking and nonbraking positions with respect to said turntables; a tension spring biasing said support and engaged brake member into said braking position; and means for tilting said support from said. position to selectively position said shaft ends in driving relationship with said turntables. and release the biasing spring force on said brake member, whereby it may assume a non-braking position.

winding reels for a flexible recording 'medium, comprisable by said support, said brake member being supported in a direction to move said end shoes into engagement with said turntables and position said'shaft ends in close non-drivin'g'proximity to said turntables, and'means for tilting said plate to selectively move one of said motor shaft ends into' driving engagement with its associated turntable and disengage'said brake member. 7

4. In'a tape recorder, a pair, of rotatable turntables adaptedto receive a pair'of tape winding reels, a plate member supported for. universal tilting movement, a motorfixedly mounted on said plate and having a driving shaft with oppositely extending driving shaft ends for respectively driving said' turntables, a brake member at one end of saidplatehaving end shoes adapted to engage with said turntables, a spring biasing said plate in a direction to move said end'shoes into engagement with said turntables and position said. shaft ends in into driving engagement withits associated turntable and 'release said brake member, and the other direction acting to carry the other of said shaftends into driving engagement with its associated turntable and release said brake member. e

5. Ina tape recorder, a pair of rotatable turntables adapted to receive a pair of tape winding reels, a plate shoes adapted to. engage ;with said turntables, a spring biasing said plate in a direction to move. said end shoes into engagement Withsaid turntables and position said shaft ends inclosehnon-driving proximity to said turntables, and means engag'eable with the plate end on the opposite side of said pivot from said motor for tilting saidplate to .selectivelymove one of said motor shafts into. driving engagement with its associated turnable and v, disengage said brake member.

l kete'rences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS 2,768,244 Tiger Oct. 23, 1956 2,973,156 Draheim Feb. 28, 1961 

1. A DRIVE MECHANISM FOR A TAPE RECORDER HAVING A PAIR OF ROTATABLE TURNTABLES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PAIR OF TAPE WINDING REELS, COMPRISING: A MOTOR HAVING A DRIVING SHAFT WITH OPPOSITELY EXTENDING DRIVING SHAFT ENDS FOR RESPECTIVELY DRIVING SAID TURNTABLES; A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SUPPORT FOR NORMALLY SUPPORTING SAID MOTOR IN A POSITION WITH ITS DRIVING SHAFT ENDS IN A NON-DRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TURNTABLES; A BRAKE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE BY SAID SUPPORT, SAID BRAKE MEMBER BEING SUPPORTED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENTS INTO BRAKING AND NON-BRAKING POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID TURNTABLES; A TENSION SPRING BIASING SAID SUPPORT AND ENGAGED BRAKE MEMBER INTO SAID BRAKING POSITION; AND MEANS FOR TILTING SAID SUPPORT FROM SAID POSITION TO SELECTIVELY POSITION SAID SHAFT ENDS IN DRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID TURNTABLES AND RELEASE THE BIASING SPRING FORCE ON SAID BRAKE MEMBER, WHEREBY IT MAY ASSUME A NON-BRAKING POSITION. 